Abstract [en]

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a global public health problem directly linked to poor diet and lack of exercise. Effective approaches are available to prevent type 2 diabetes and to prevent disease-related complications, and taking a lifestyle perspective is essential. Primary care nurses have an important role with disease-prevention when leading patients towards a health-promoting lifestyle. Purpose: To describe how patients with type 2 diabetes experience making changes towards a health-promoting lifestyle, after meeting with primary care nurses. Method: A descriptive design with a qualitative approach was used. Data was collected through interviews with 11 patients with a semi-structured guide of open-ended questions. Inclusion criteria for the study were as follows: patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for one year or longer who were able to respond adequately to questions. Data was analysed with qualitative content analysis. Main Results: Patients described knowledge regarding the disease as a key aspect when gaining understanding related to the bearing of lifestyle on blood sugar level and treatment of type 2 diabetes. They described that the primary care nurse had an important role in providing data and offering support whilst helping the patients taking a lifestyle perspective on diabetes. With a broader understanding of the condition the patients experienced an increase in motivation when making changes towards a health-promoting lifestyle. Conclusion: Patients described knowledge and understanding regarding the disease as key aspects to achieve a good blood glucose level and a health-promoting lifestyle. It is of great importance that primary care nurses invest resources in counselling, blood glucose monitoring and self-management education to increase motivation and ability of self-management and to support a health-promoting lifestyle.